Compacting machine for heavy leather



R. w. DANIELS, JR., ETAL 2,663,179 COMPACTING MACHINE FOR HEAVY LEATHER Dec; 22, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1951 Inventors Ric/24rd 14/ Danie/d) Jr." John J /7a ciey'o Mil 4' 5 2f A2 D 1953 R. w. DANIELS, JR., Em. 2,663,179

COMPACTING MACHINE FOR HEAVY LEATHER Filed Nov. 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /0 Fly. .2

[nven for; 4 Ric/lard l u flam'ela, Jr: John J Maclgja wakz' Dec. 22, 1953 R. w. DANIELS, JR. ET AL 2,663,179

COMPACTING MACHINE FOR HEAVY LEATHER Filed Nov. 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I a J W %\m \hQ Few 3% .Vdvwn A Dee. 22, 1953 R. w. DANIELS, JR., ETAL 7 COMPACTING MACHINE FOR HEAVY LEATHER Filed Nov. 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 In men lors I J Rib/Zara WDam'e/sfz FR I JohnlMaciejowskL' 1? the At 1 ggw b Patented Dec. 22, 1953 COMPACTING MACHINE FOR HEAVY LEATHER Richard W. Daniels, Jr., and John J.

Maciejowski,

Wenham, Mass., assignors to United Shoe Ma- Flemington, N. J., a corchinery Corporation, poration of New J erse Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,336

4 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for compressing or compacting leather and improving the finish thereof.

More particularly it relates to an improvement in machines of the general type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,571,149, granted on October 16, 19-51, on an application filed in the names of John'JJMaciejowski and Richard W. Daniels, Jr. I

In this type of machine heavy forces are involved in properly compacting leather and therefore the work element supporting structure is necessarily of massive proportions. The work elements form the passage through which a work piece is carriedand must be in proper alinement. ikewise the clearances in this passage are critical in their adjustmentand must be maintained withaccuracy. f

,When leather is to be compacted by this machine it usually contains 30% to 50% moisture and in some types of operation the surface of the leather has been coated withwater or other aqueous compounds immediately prior to the compacting operation. 'In'the operation of the machine this condition of the leather causes foreign matter to form'on and adjacent to the work elements and after continued operation of the machine such a formation or deposit will impede the proper operation of the machines or will cause a marking of thework elements. It is, therefore, necessary that the work elements be frequently cleaned and inspected. vTo accomplish this end it is alsodesirable that the Work treating zonebe completely accessible.

It is an object of this invention to provide a.

leather compacting machine, of the type wherein work pieces are compacted in a work treating zone by reciprocating fiat horizontal bars against yieldable anvils, with ready access 'to the work.

treating zone.

In accordance with the features of this invention the anvils are mounted in a pivotal member and counter-balancing means are provided so that the member may be readily moved to and from its operative position. V

These and other features of the invention will now be described in detail in the specification and pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 isa .view in elevation of the right side or end. of a machine in which the present invention is embodied, the head or anvil supporting member of the machine being shown as moved or pivoted into its inoperative position and the feed 2 rolls of the machine placed in their inefiective or open positions;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the left side or end of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with portions being cut away for ease of illustration and the anvil supporting-member or head of the machine being in its operative position and with the feed rolls closed;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine with portions omitted or broken away showing internal details of the construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view drawn to a larger scale showing in greater detail the construction as brought out in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View along the line V-V of Fig. 1 drawn to a larger scale and illustrating a locking means for the head of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale along the line VI-VI of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an electrical diagram showing suitable circuits for the control of the work feeding rollers of the machine.

Because of the nature of the work performed the machine as herein illustrated and in which the invention is embodied is rugged and substantially built. A base is provided which conveniently comprises a horizontal plate I 0 (Figs. 1 and 2) and channel bars I 2 and M the flanges of which rest upon the plate Ill. The machine proper comprises two end castings l6 and it! which are adapted to rest upon the channels 12 and [4. The end castings I 6 and I8 are joined by a horizontal box-like casing 20 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which is heavily constructed and the ends of which are bolted to the end castings l6 and I8. One side of the casing 20 (toward the rear of the machine and to the left as shown in Fig. 4) is provided with an opening over which is bolted a cover 22. Above and spaced from the casing 2|] is a horizontal head casting 24 (Figs. 2 and 4) which includes a top horizontal portion 26 (Figs. 2 and 3) and a lower horizontal portion 28 (Fig. 4). The head casting 24 is adapted to be supported on the end castings l6 and I8 but is conveniently arranged to be moved relative thereto as will be further described.

The front of the machine (to the left in Fig. 1) is provided with a shelf 30 supported on brackets 32 joined to the end castings l6 and 18. A similar shelf 34 is provided on the rear of the machine and is supported by means of brackets 36 joined to the end castings I6 and-l8.

The end casting I6 is provided with an opening (Figs.- 1 and 3) in its lower portion and an upstanding projection 42 on its top. The projection 42 is suitably ribbed at 43 to insure adequate strength. The end casting I6 also is provided with horizontal and integral webs 44 and 46 (Fig. 1) as well as a horizontal flat shoulder 48 (Fig. 3).

The end casting I6 is provided with horizontal webs 52 and 54 (Fig. 2) and three fiat horizontal surfaces 56, 51 (Fig. 2) and 58 (Fig. 4). The two shoulders 48 and 58 of the end castings I6 and 58 respectively are adapted to cooperate as will be further explained. The relative positions of these two shoulders is illustrated i'nFig. 3..

The casing 20 is of cast construction with five webs or partitions 60 therein as depicted in Fig. 3. Each web 60 is provided witha rollerbearing 62. and end bearings 64 and 66 aremounted in the end walls of the casing 20. The seven bearings 62, 64, and 66 rotatively support a shaft I which runs full length of the casing 20 and protrudes through the end casting I6 to support a flywheel Z2 keyed thereto with its hub or pulley 14. Belts 16 are mounted upon the pulley I4. and are driven from a pulley l8 joined" to the shaft of a motor 66. The motor 80 is suitably mounted on a pivoted platform 82 (Fig; l) which is so mounted that it maybe moved up or down to vary the tension in the belts i6. Alternating with the bearings 62' on the shaft 10 are six roller bearings 84 and each of these are eccentrically mounted on the shaft 76 to support an eccentric member 85 which has an arm 86 (Fig. 4') pivoted at 86 to a depending and bifurcated portion 69 of a rocking member 90. A shaft 92 is non-rotatably supported in the-web's 60 and each of the rocking members 96 is mounted on the shaft 92 to rotate or oscillate thereon. Each rocking member 90 has oppositely extending arms 94' and 96 to which are pivoted short links 96 and I00, re spectively. There are twolinks 98 and two links I00 for each rocking member 90. The upper ends of the links 98 and 100 are pivoted to the lower ends ofvertically extending plungers I02 and I64 respectively which are adapted to reciprocate vertically in the upper or horizontal wall of the casing 26. There are two plungers I62- and two plungers I04 to each of the six eccentric mem here 65. There are, therefore, twelve plunger-s 02 and twelve plungers I04. These plungers are directly opposite each other with respect to the shaft 92 and are not in staggered relation although such arrangement is permissible. Openings I03, E and i0! are formed in the webs 66 to permit assembly of the parts described above and also to permit an adequate circulation and distribution of a lubricant within the'casing iii.

The upper portion of. the casing 20 is provided which the tops with a groove Hi6 (Fig. i) intoof twelve plungers Hi2 extend. The casing 20 is also provided with a groove I I0 into which the. tops of the plungers I04 extend. Each plunger I02 is pivoted by a pin H2 to a depending rib H4 or a horizontal bar II6 which runs the full length of the row of pl-ungers I02. Theplungers i04 are similarly pivoted toa bar I I8.. It will be understood that the bar H6 and the twelve plungers I62 are adapted to move as a unit and that the same is true of the bar IIB and the twelve plungers I04. The top surfaces of the bars H6 and H6 are smoothly contoured as seen in Fig. 4.

Recessed into and attached to the top of the casing 20-are. three bars I20, I22 and 124 to which areattached work guiding plates I26, E23 and I30, respectively.

The bottom portion 26 of the head casting 24 is fitted with angle bars I32 and I34 (Fig. 4) to which are attached guide plates I36 and I38. Beneath and along the center of the head casting 24 are flanges I40 and I42 and to the flange 5 35 a central work deflecting and air restricting plate I44 is attached. The plate I44 cooperates with the plates I36 and I38 to provide under surfaces which define. with the aid of the upper surfaces of the plates I26, I26 and I30 a shallow work passage. These guide plates (six in number) are mounted contiguous to the work treatment zone and to the path through which the work is to be fed; and-the. plates I28 and 645 are interposed between and immediately above the two rows of plungers. I02 andI04.

A row: of. anvils- I (nineteen in number) are mounted. forvertical motion through the bottom portion. 28 of. the. head casting 24 and are placed in cooperative relation with the row of plungers I022 A second rowof anvils I52 are provided in the? head casting 24 and are placed to cooperate with the row of plungers I04. The anvils I533 are similar in. all respects, to, the anvils i572 and only the anvil's I52 are therefore specifically described.

Fig. 6 clearly depicts the construction of each anvil I52 (similar to each anvil I50) which is bored at. I54. to' accommodatev a spring loaded plunger I56; A coil spring, I58 is provided within the plunger I56 and is retained in place by a spring washer'l 60 retained in agroove I62 formed in the main body of the anvil I52. The anvil I52 is also providedwith a shoulder portion I64 which is: adapted to rest; upon a top surface of the lower portion 28. of the head casting 24 with a shock absorbing or resilient material I66 interposed. A coiledspring I66is'arranged. normally to maintain each of the anvils I52 in firm engagement with the shock absorbing material I66 and the upper end of each of the springs I66 is held downwardly with the proper compression by means of a headed. screw member I10 (Fig; 2) which is threaded into the upper portion 26 of the head" casting'2 lr.v The: bottom of the springloaded plunger 156' is provided with a web H2 (Figs. 6 and 4) which isarranged to project into a slot I14 of a tiltable work contacting anvil member H6 as well as into a groove I18 (Fig. 6) of a pin I which. is utilized to pivotally attach the anvil member I16 to the main body of the anvil I52. It will be noted that the work contacting anvil portion [16 is curved in the direction of the. pin I80 butis provided with flat and vertical ends which (Fig; 3-) are placed in substantially abutting" relation with the adjacent anvil portions I16. The arrangement of each anvil portion I16 with respect to the main body of its anvil I50 or I52 issuch that a slight pivoting motion of the portion I16 about the pin I80 is permitted.

The end casting I8' is provided with an upstanding portion -I'82 (Figs. 2 and 3). This portion cooperates with the upstanding portion it of the'end' casting I6 to aid in holding the head casting 24 and two rubber covered feed rolls I64 and I86 (Fig. 4) in position. Bolted and dovetailed to the upstanding portions 42 and 32 are four bearing blocks I88 (Fig. 3), I90 (Fig. 3), I92 (Fig. l) and I94 (Fig.2). These bearing blocks are not split but, are so made as to be slipped over the ends of their respective shafts (to be referred to) during the assembly of the machine. The bearing blocks I68, and. I90 serve to support a shaft I96. of the rubber covered roll I34. The bearing blocks I92, I94. support a shaft I98 which 75 is part of the roll. I86. Located on shoulders of aeesfr're the end casting I8 are two bearing blocks'200 and 202 (Figs. 1 and 2) which serve to support stub shafts 204- and 206 respectively. The stub shaft 204 bears a gear 208 mounted to rotate thereon and the stub shaft 206 carries'a gear 2I0 for rotation relative thereto. The gear 2"] is in mesh with a gear 2 I2 keyed to, the shaft I96 and alsowith a gear 2I4 mountedon a stub shaft 2I6 supported on the end casting l8. The gear 2I4 is mounted to drive a gear 2I8 which is keyed to the shaft 220 of a lower steel feed roll 222. V The latter roll with its shaft 220 is mounted to rotate on bearings in the inner ends of two pivoted arms 223 and 224. The stub shaft 2I6 is of sufficient length to support the arm 224 forvpivotal action aswell as the gear 2 I4 andv the arm 223 is pivoted to the end casting I6 by means of a bolt 225. The end of the arm 224, (Figs.'2 and 3) is provided with a dependinglug 226 which is pivoted by means of a pin 221 to the upperend of a rod 228 and the lower end of the rod 228 (Fig. 2) passes freely through the top of'a casting 230 and is threaded and supplied with a stop nut 232. The casting 230 is pivoted by means ofa pin 234 (Fig. 2) to one end of a two-armed lever 236 and the latter is pivoted at 238 to aspecjal fitting 240 supported on the horizontal web 52. The other end of the two-armed lever 236 is pivoted at 242 to the lower end of a piston rod 244 which ispart of a hydraulic motor 246. The latter is pivoted by means of a pin,248 to a depending portion 250 of the'end casting I8. At the other side of the machine, the pivoted arm 223 bears adepending lug 252 to which is pivoted at 253 (Fig. 4) a depending rod 254, the lower end of which is threaded and passes through a casting 256 and bears a stop nut 256 (Fig. 1). The casting 256 is pivoted at 260 to one end of a two-armed lever 262. The lever 262 is pivoted at 264 to a special fitting 266 supported on the horizontal web 46 of the endcasting I6. One end of the lever 262 is pinned at, 268 to the lower end of a piston rod 210 which is part of a fluid pressure motor 212 and the latter is pivoted at 214 to a depending portion or web 216 of the end casting. I6. V I

A stop member 280 is made an integral part of the web 46 and placed to conformpto one end of'the two-armed lever 262, as shownv in Fig. 1. A stop member 282 (Fig. 1) is alsomade a part of the end casting I6 and is in position to limit the movement in one directionrof the special casting 256. Similarstops 284 and 286 are provided on the endcasting I8, as seen in Fig. 2.

A second steelfeedroll 299 is provided and is mounted beneath and parallel with the rubber covered roll I 86.. The mounting of this roll 290 is not specifically described aslit is clearly shown in the drawings and the mounting is similar. in all respects with that of the roll 222 except that theswinging of the roll in coming into effective feeding relation is opposite to that of the roll 222 (clockwise instead of counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4)

A valve 292 (Fig. 1) is placed on the backof the machine and on the endcasting i6 and this valve is connected, in a well-known manner to control the operation of the two fluidmotors 246 and 2.12. A second valve 294 is mounted on the front 'of the machine on the end casting I6 and similarly controls the two motors 296 and 298 utilized for opening and'closing the -roll 290.

The head casting 24 is adapted to be rotated with respect to the rubber covered roll I85 and therefore away "from'and' toward its normal and operative position by'virtueoi' its mounting 24isa the bearings300jand 302 (Fig. 3). One-half of each'of these bearings constitutes a. portion of the head casting 24 and each bearing is split with the outer half being joined to the casting 24 by means of bolts. The bearing 366 utilizes bolts 304 and 366 and the'bearing 362 employs bolts 308 and3I0. The bearing 303 is interposed between the'bearing block I38 and one end of the main portion of the rubber roll I84, and the bearing 302 is interposed betweenthe other end of the main portion of the roll I 34 and the bearing block i236. Supported on one end of the head casting bifurcated arm 342 to the end of which is pivoted a depending rod 3I4 which is part of a counterbalancing unit (Fig. 1) made up of a concentric coiled spring 3l6, expansive force of which (when the head casting 24 is at or less than from its normal or operating position) is uti- 6 held to thehead casting lizedin a conventional manner to pull downwardly on the arm 3! 2. QA bracket 313 is attached to the end casting I6 by a stud and nut 3 I 5. The rod 3i 4 isfree toslide and pivot in passing through the bracket 3I3. The 'arm 3I2 is V 24 by means'of a cap plate 320 bolted to the head casting 24 by means of bolts 322. A similar counter-balancing. unit utilizing an arm 324 is employed at the other end of the head casting 24. This unit has 3. depending rod 326 and a coiled spring 328 and is held in slidable and pivotal relation with the end casting Is by a nut 329. Itwill thus be seen that the head casting 24 is held in rotative relation with the shaft I96 and specialrmeans must be provided for normally holding the head casting 24 in accurate and operative relation with respect to the lower partsof the machine. This accuracy obviously is necessary because of the small dimensions dealt with in the treatment of leather and will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds. The end castings I6 and I8 have already been referred to as having horizontal shoulders 48 and 58. These serve together with the bearingst lfiil and. 302 to support the head casting 24 and interposedbetween the shoulders 48 and 58 and the appropriate parts of the head casting 24 are wedges or shims 330 and 332 (Fig 3). These wedges or shims may be varied in thickness ornumber positively to determine the exact clearance desired for particular work to be treated.

Inorder to hold the head casting 24 firmly down on the wedges or shims 336 and 332, wedges 334and 336 are provided near the top of the machine. As clearly depicted in Fig. 3, the upstanding projection 42 of the end frame I6 is recessed or grooved at 340 to accommodate the wedge 334, and the'head casting 24 is correspondingly recessed (for that same wedge) at 342; The upper and lower surfacesof these recesses 34!! and 342 are'not in the same planes as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and the construction is such that movement of .the wedge 334 into place serves to wedge that end of thehe'ad casting24 downwardly against 7 the wedge or shim 330. After the wedge 334 is firmly driven into place or drawn into place by a suitable. bolt.350, bolts 352 may be tightened firmly locking the wedge 334'and that end of the head casting 24 in position. .The wedge 336 for the. other endof the head casting is similarly provided with an adjustingbolt 354 and tightening 1 1 3 55 1 d Q, 1,, The head casting '24 is provided with five ver- .tical passages 360 (Fig.3) serving as air ducts leading from the'vicinity of the work guiding plate I44 to an air suction hood 362 bolted at 364 to the top of the headcasting 24. The means disclosed for removing dirt and other extraneous matter from the work treating zone is not claimed herein but is the subject of an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 359,951, filed April 24, 1953 in the names of Richard W. Daniels, Jr., and John J. Maciejowski. The hood obviously must be disconnected in the event that the head casting is to be tilted.

The lower steel roll 299 is adapted to be driven by a gear 364 which in turn is driven by a gear 366 and the gear 298.

A motor RM (Fig. '7-and not shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive) is utilized to drive a shaft 319 (Figs. 2 and 3) to which is keyed a sprocket 312 for driving a chain 314. This chain drives a sprocket 316 (Fig. 2) which is keyed to the shaft I96. The shaft I98 is driven from the shaft I96 by means of sprockets 389, 382 (Fig. 1) and a sprocket chain 384. It will be noted that the sprocket 382. is slightly larger in diameter than the sprocket 389. This is for the reason that the rubber covered feed roll I84 (at the zone of work discharge) must be driven, at aslightly faster rate than the feed roll I86 as each work piece is elongated during the treatment, as will be further brought out.

The upstanding projection 42 of the end frame It (Fig. 5) is bored at 399 to accommodate a spring pressed plunger 392 to which a knob 394 is pinned, the knob having a finger 396 for engaging a shoulder398- on the projection 42. The head casting 24 is drilled at 499 to receive the plunger 392 when the head casting 24 is in a temporary lowered position. A second plunger with a knob 49I is similar to the plunger 392 and is provided for holding the head casting 24 in its raised position as shown in Fig. 1. Both of these plungers are not essential but are provided merely for convenience. The plunger with the knob 49I has been found to be much more useful than the plunger 392.

A safety bar 494 is located adjacent to the roll I86 and immediately above the path of travel of a workpiece W and is supported in this position by curved arms 496 secured to a shaft 492 which is mounted for rotation on the bearing blocks of the roll I86. Also secured to the shaft 492 is an arm 499 (Fig. 4) which abuts the bearing block for the roll I86 limiting the downward movement of the bar 494. A spring M9 is provided which tends to hold the bar 494 in its normal position. A safety switch SS is mounted on the front of the machine (Figs. 4 and 7) which is adapted to be operated by a projection on the right hand arm 496 when the bar 494 is raised by a workpiece which becomes fouled in the work treating zone.

Fig. '7 diagrammatically depicts the electrical control system for the machine. Three phase current is drawn from the three lines ML and a transformer T is utilized to provide suitable current to operate four magnetic coils A, B, C and D. The coil A is arranged to operate a relay KI for controlling the motor 89 driving the work compacting tools. The coil B is adapted to close a relay K2 and the coil C is adapted to close a relay K3. The coil D operates a pneumatic time delay relay K4 (within the confines of the dash lines of Fig. '7). The secondary line from the transformer T is controlled by a stop button or switch SB the operation of which terminates all current flow.

The tool motor 89 is started by closing a switch TS and energizing the coil A which closes the re.- lay .Kl' The contactor a, serves to hold the relay KI closed after the switch TS is released and opened and the motor 89 therefore continues running.

The motor RM for driving the feed rollers I84, I86, 222 and 299 is. started by closing a switch RS to energize the coil B and closing the relay K2. The circuits controlling the feed motor RM are so connected that the feed rollers may be stopped almost instantaneously. This is performed by the opening of the safety switch SS (when leather is caught or buckled under the bar) to deenergize the coils B, and D. This causes the contactor m of the relay K4 to close, and because of the action of a dash-pot DP, the contactor n. remains closedfor a time depending upon how fast air is permitted to flow into the dash-pot cylinder. While the contactors m and n are closed the circuit is completed through the relay K3 to reverse the current to the motor RM. This brings the motor RM, and hence the feed rollers, quickly to a stop. The dash-pot DP air inlet is adjustable so that the contactor n will open just before the motor RM is completely stopped and thereby remove the reverse voltage so that the feed rolls are not driven in directions opposite to those in feeding the work. The safety apparatus is not claimed herein but is the subject, of an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 350,952, filed April 24, 1953, in the names of Richard W. Daniels, Jr., and John J. Maciejowski.

In the event that a. momentary reversal of the feed rolls and motor RM is desired after that motor has been stopped and in order to free jammed work, for example, a button or switch JS is employed. Closing the switch JS serves to energize the coil C and the feed rolls are reversed as long as the switch JS is depressed.

Only the switch SS is shown in the drawings as placed on the machine but the switches SB, TS, RS and J S may all be grouped at the front of the machine or on the shelf 39 within convenient access for the operator.

From the above description it may be understood that the head casting may easily be lifted for cleaning of, the work treating tools and that buckling of the work W may be avoided with the controls provided.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for feeding a spread-out work piece in a path leading through the machine, tools on said frame comprising reciprocable flat bars arranged transverse and contiguous to said path and anvils arranged in cooperative relation with said bars and at the other side of said path, and a supporting member for said anvils, said member being movable away from said path giving access to said bars and anvils.

2. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, means on said frame for feeding a spread-out work piece in a horizontal path through the machine, tools on said frame comprising reciprocable fiat bars arranged transverse beneath and contiguous to said path and anvils arranged above said path in cooperative relation with said bars, and a supporting member for said anvils. said member being in pivoted relation with said frame for upward movement away from said path giving access to said bars and anvils.

3. In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, cooperating rollers on said frame for feeding and discharging a spread-out work piece with relation to a work treating zone in said machine, tools on said frame comprising reciprocable flat bars arranged transverse and contiguous to said zone and anvils arranged in cooperative relation with said bars and at the other side of said zone, and a movable supporting member for said anvils, said member being normally locked in operative position on said frame and being provided with counterbalancing means to facilitate movement of said member to gain access to said bars and anvils.

4, In a machine for compacting hides, a frame, cooperating feed rollers on said frame for feeding a spread-out work piece in a horizontal path leading through a work treatment zone of the machine, tools on said frame for compacting work passing through said zone, and a supporting member for that portion of the machine located above said zone, said member being normally locked in operative position but being pivoted and counterbalanced for movement away from operative position to gain access to said tools.

RICHARD W. DANIELS, Ja.

JOHN J. MACIEJOWSKI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

